Move or improve? What would you do?

[mylittlepuds]

My dream is to live in a gorgeous village about 20 mins away from us. It's in the middle of the countryside but so well connected as it's close to a major road. It's gorgeous (did I already say that?!). Beautiful English village with quaint pubs, outstanding school, village hall, cricket club, green with village events - lots going on. It's also very, very expensive.

We live in a lovely suburb. Low crime, very good schools, parks, shops, a big Tesco, small Tesco, nice families. We have a lovely big house too.

My dilemma is this...there is scope to extend our home and make it truly fabulous. But - and this is a huge but - that would mean accepting the suburbs and shelving the village dream. My DS is 2 and I wouldn't want him to start school here and then pluck him out. I want him to start school where we'll be staying.

If we move to the village our house will be a semi. Our house now is a four bed detached (we have a newborn DD so space is required).

What would you do/what have you done - do you regret it or are you happy?

I'd improve to make my house more valuable then move. I think you overestimate how difficult it is to move children from one school to another - most settle in pretty easily so unless you think there is something about your son that would make it super-traumatic, I don't think you should let that influence your timetable enormously.

I'd move to the semi with a view to upgrading in the future. I'd want to settle in the village and make friends etc early on and go from there.you can't give up your dream!

I'd move too - I think now with newborn DD (presumably materity leave) and a 2yr old is perfect friends-making timing - baby groups, people stopping you to ask about a new baby. That would be my driver and then be settled into the new village and life there by time you have to apply for school for your 2yr old.

Follow your dream and move while it's simpler.